George M. Holmes

George Milton Holmes is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's 92nd House district, including constituents in eastern Surry, northern Iredell and Yadkin counties. A retiree from Hamptonville, North Carolina, Holmes began serving his sixteenth term in January 2007. He is one of the longest serving North Carolina legislators.

Early life

Holmes, a native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, is a 1954 graduate of Appalachian State University. At Appalachian, he received a football scholarship [ [http://theholmescenter.com The Holmes Center website, "George M. Holmes: A 'People' Person"] ] . Holmes married Barbara Ireland, the daughter of William Nelson Ireland, who was also a state legislator in the 1950s ["An Illustrated History of Yadkin County, 1850-1980", by W.E. Rutledge Jr., Page 23] .

He taught at West Yadkin High School from 1954-1956, coaching football, baseball and basketball. In 1956, he joined W. N. Ireland Insurance Company in Yadkinville, North Carolina. He later became president and co-owner.

Political life

Holmes was first elected to state office in 1974 and has only been defeated once, in the post-Watergate backlash against Republicans in 1976. He was the minority whip from 1981-1982 and minority party joint caucus leader from 1983-84. When Republicans took over the state House in 1995, Holmes gained considerable power as the co-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 1995-98.

In 2003, Holmes, the senior Republican, was a candidate for speaker of the state House. Holmes was a compromise candidate after five Republicans refused to support Rep. Leo Daughtry. Republican Rep. Richard T. Morgan ended Holmes' bid when he and his allies orchestrated a power-sharing deal with Democrat Jim Black [ [http://www.thepilot.com/stories/20070324/news/local/20070324morgan_special.html "Back on the Farm: Morgan Settles Into Life Out of Politics," article by David Sinclair, managing editor of The Pilot] ] .

The Holmes Convocation Center, an 8,576 seat arena in Boone, North Carolina, is named for Holmes, who was instrumental in bringing in state funds for the project.

Holmes is popular in his district, which is overwhelmingly Republican. He ran unopposed in the 2006 and 2004 elections, and had a Libertarian challenger in 2002.

Campaign finance questions

In December 2006, Holmes was criticized after it was reported he wrote three checks to himself totaling more than $79,000 from his campaign finance account. The last payment from the account was four days before a new law limiting personal use of campaign money took effect.

Holmes defended the transfer, saying what he did was within the law ["Holmes defends using money from campaign before new law," "Winston-Salem Journal" article by James Romoser, December 20, 2006] .

"Through 32 years of serving in the General Assembly, I accumulated more than I had to spend for my campaign," Holmes told the "Winston-Salem Journal". "I see nothing wrong with a person who has accumulated excess funds through the years using that money because it was given with no strings attached."

Recent news

In the 2007-08 session of the legislature, Holmes is a member of these committees [ [http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=House&nUserID=52 North Carolina General Assembly website] ] : Appropriations, Aging, Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Financial Institutions, Judiciary, Public Utilities, and University Board of Governors Nominating. He also is vice-chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.

Holmes was hospitalized in March 2007 for pneumonia and to receive some treatment for his heart ["Monday, March 26, 2007, at the North Carolina General Assembly," The Associated Press ] . He was back at his desk by March 26, 2007.

In 2008, Holmes cited his health when he declined to run for a 17th term. [ [http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/holmes_wont_run_again "The News & Observer" blog: Holmes won't run again] ]

Awards

*Appalachian State University Distinguished Alumni Award, 1995
*N.C. Senior Tarheel Legislative Award for Exemplary Leadership, 1996
*Order of the Long Leaf Pine, 1992
*Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce Public Service Award, 1993
* The Veterans of Foreign Wars Exemplary Service award, 1995

References

External links

* [http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=House&nUserID=52 North Carolina General Assembly website]
* [http://theholmescenter.com The Holmes Center]